THANKS for stopping by, I do my best to acknowledge when someone leaves a comment,you do not have to be a member here & everyone is welcome.
Ps: This site is monitored but not actively posting on a regular basis. Mostly these are stories & some photos saved from a defunct site known as Verdun Connections which was on MSN Groups initially then on a social network called Multiply.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Remembrance Day Coming Soon.......lest we forget

Just got this via email: You may like it, maybe not,but it's a good reason to buy a poppy.........or at least Remember in your own way:

Her hair was up in a pony tail, Her favorite dress tied with a bow.. Today was Daddy's Day at school, And she couldn't wait to go.

But her mommy tried to tell her, That she probably should stay home. Why the kids might not understand, If she went to school alone.

But she was not afraid; She knew just what to say. What to tell her classmates Of why he wasn't there today.

But still her mother worried, For her to face this day alone. And that was why once again, She tried to keep her daughter home.

But the little girl went to school Eager to tell them all. About a dad she never sees A dad who never calls.

There were daddies along the wall in back, For everyone to meet. Children squirming impatiently, Anxious in their seats

One by one the teacher called A student from the class. To introduce their daddy, As seconds slowly passed.

At last the teacher called her name, Every child turned to stare. Each of them was searching, A man who wasn't there.

'Where's her daddy at?' She heard a boy call out. 'She probably doesn't have one,' Another student dared to shout.

And from somewhere near the back, She heard a daddy say, 'Looks like another deadbeat dad, Too busy to waste his day.'

The words did not offend her, As she smiled up at her Mom. And looked back at her teacher, Who told her to go on.

And with hands behind her back, Slowly she began to speak. And out from the mouth of a child, Came words incredibly unique.

'My Daddy couldn't be here, Because he lives so far away. But I know he wishes he could be, Since this is such a special day.

And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know. All about my daddy, And how much he loves me so.

He loved to tell me stories He taught me to ride my bike. He surprised me with pink roses, And taught me to fly a kite.

We used to share fudge sundaes, And ice cream in a cone. And though you cannot see him. I'm not standing here alone.

'Cause my daddy's always with me, Even though we are apart I know because he told me, He'll forever be in my heart'

With that, her little hand reached up, And lay across her chest. Feeling her own heartbeat, Beneath her favorite dress.

And from somewhere here in the crowd of dads, Her mother stood in tears. Proudly watching her daughter, Who was wise beyond her years.

For she stood up for the love Of a man not in her life. Doing what was best for her, Doing what was right.

And when she dropped her hand back down, Staring straight into the crowd. She finished with a voice so soft, But its message clear and loud.

'I love my daddy very much, he's my shining star. And if he could, he'd be here, But heaven's just too far.

You see he is a Canadian soldierAnd died just this past year When a roadside bomb hit his convoy And taught us all to fear.

But sometimes when I close my eyes, it's like he never went away.' And then she closed her eyes, And saw him there that day.

And to her mothers amazement, She witnessed with surprise. A room full of daddies and children, All starting to close their eyes.

Who knows what they saw before them, Who knows what they felt inside. Perhaps for merely a second, They saw him at her side.

'I know you're with me Daddy,' To the silence she called out. And what happened next made believers, Of those once filled with doubt.

Not one in that room could explain it, For each of their eyes had been closed. But there on the desk beside her, Was a fragrant long-stemmed rose.

And a child was blessed, if only for a moment, By the love of her shining star. And given the gift of believing, That heaven is never too far.

9 comments:

Why the Poppy? Today, fields of brilliant poppies still grow in France. A writer first made the connection between the poppy and battlefield deaths during the Napoleonic wars of the early 19th century, remarking that fields that were barren before battle exploded with the blood-red flowers after the fighting ended.

During the tremendous bombardments of the First World War the chalk soils became rich in lime from rubble, allowing 'popaver rhoeas' to thrive. When the war ended the lime was quickly absorbed, and the poppy began to disappear again.

After John McCrae's poem In Flanders Fields was published in 1915 the poppy became a popular symbol for soldiers who died in battle.

Three years later an American, Moina Michael, was working in a New York City YMCA canteen when she started wearing a poppy in memory of the millions who died on the battlefield.

During a 1920 visit to the United States a French woman, Madame Guerin, learned of the custom. On her return to France she decided to use handmade poppies to raise money for the destitute children in war-torn areas of the country. In November, 1921, the first poppies were distributed in Canada.

Thanks to the millions of Canadians who wear flowers each November, the little red plant has never died. And neither have Canadian's memories for 116,031 of their countrymen who died in battle.

Les, Do you know when the poppy fields are in bloom in Flanders Fields? Richard and I have just booked a trip for May & June, spending the month of May in an apartment in Paris. We plan to take day and overnight trips outside of Paris and Flanders Fields would be a possibility. We'll also visit my brother's grave at the Canadian Cemetery, Benys sur Mer and possibly the town of Frommels, site of the Battle of Frommels in which thousands of Australian soldiers lost their lives during the First World War. If any other Verdunites have loved ones buried at Benys sur Mer, let me know and I'll place a flower at their gravesite in rememberance.......Diane

Diane I don't know when the poppies are in bloom,however here is a very good site ,that details much of te Cemetary at Benys Sur Mer,.this link briings you directly to a page allowing you to find a gravesite,The whole site is interesting and you can check it all out,from the 'homepage' there are photos ,inforamtion etc etc ...........Good Luck I'm sure when you visit there next May ,you will most likely be overtaken by the enormity of it all,& the realisation of just How many people died.....and this is only one Cemetaryhttp://www.cwgc.org/debt_of_honour.asp?menuid=14 Good luck & have a nice vacation,it sounds like an interesting adventure.......First though enjoy your Summer,.ps: Do you buy import wines.because Teresa & I like a few Australian ones & they are quite reasonably priced. BC has many great wines nowadays as well,.check them out. HF&RV here have a walk through the cemetary:

Les, I have already visited Benys Sur Mer about 6 years ago and it was a very moving experience. I went to the Canadian Embassy in Paris and they gave me the exact location of my brother's grave in the cemetery with directions on how to get there. Richard and I drove out of Paris around the Arc de Triumphe which was a nightmare experience (makes Montreal drivers look like pussycats!). The drive was easy once you left Paris and the cemetery has an entrance arch with an alcove containing books with info on every soldier, including his hometown address and parents names. Very surreal being in an unknown place on the other side of the world and seeing your parents names written down. Standing on the isolated beach was even more emotional and while looking back at the remains of German bunkers, you could almost sense how those young frightened soldiers must have felt landing on those shores. I'm eerily drawn back to the place so another visit is on the cards....Diane P.S. With over a 100 vineyards surrounding our place, we've been slowly working our way through the tastings and restaurants/cafes of the Margaret River region. Although we occasionally buy other Australian plus French, New Zealand and other imported wines to add to the collection. Life is sweet!

Just watched the video of Beny Sur Mer Les. Thanks for that and I can almost see my brother's gravesite. When you go through the arch it's on the extreme right hand side, second row and second from the end! However, I went on the Debt of Honour site and they couldn't locate his name! Yet I've found it on the War Memoriam site on the internet. Must be some hiccups in the system so I'll contact them about the problem.....Diane

Okay Les, I found him. I entered his full Christian names and not just his initials.I'm letting anyone else know if they try this, my example is how you put in the name....no periods etc.RobertsJ B1944If anyone else from Verdun would like me to place a poppy and take a photo of a gravesite at Beny Sur Mer. Please look up the site Les has provided and find out the grave location. I'll be there next May, so put the details on my site.....Diane

Nice video - it must give you some consolation Diane knowing that your brother is resting in such a peaceful place among his comrades. I never knew about this place until I read these posts. I think the poppies bloom in early summer so the later in your trip you go, the more chance you will have of seeing them in all their glory. Driving a car around the Arc de Triumphe? You deserve some kind of award - lol